The Gallerist

In 2005, AlBendar worked full-time as an employed genetic researcher at the King Faisal Hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, after completing her undergraduate degree and setting up Lahd Gallery, a focal point for women artists from the Gulf.

Back then, the Region was depleted of local contemporary spaces showcasing works by emerging artists and female artists. Lahd Gallery was both a pioneer and a game-changer, marking a new era of development and a powerful representation of ideas, philosophies, and qualities.

Moving to London, the United Kingdom, in 2010, Lahd positioned itself at the forefront of contemporary MENASA (Middle Eastern, North African, and South Asian) art, creating a level playing field for those with something to say and who are unafraid to question societal norms. The gallery soon became a well-known exhibition space on the contemporary art scene, representing emerging and semi-established artists; it brought together the leading contemporary artworks from the MENASA region.

AlBendar's primary focus was to promote the talents of contemporary MENASA art exclusively by making it accessible to the public internationally and giving women artists of the region a voice and a hub. Today Lahd Gallery is considered a Pioneer and was involved with several charitable events and organisations, including the Bobby Moore Foundation, Not On Our Watch, Marie Curie and the Caspian Arts Foundation.

In addition to her various ventures, AlBendar has been featured in several outlets worldwide, including MBC, Al Arabiya, Al Sharg, Al Awsat, Korea Herald, The Brunei Times, Canvas Magazine, Modern Art Asia, Velvet, Arab News, The Guardian, Mayfair Times, The Art Newspaper and many others. She was shortlisted as the Woman of the Future in Arts, Media and Culture at the Women of the Future Awards in 2011.

In 2015, she was nominated as a Distinguished Honouree at the UN Millennium Development Goals: 2015 Progress Award. This prestigious accolade acknowledges key leaders who work tirelessly towards a better world. Lahd is just one of the ways AlBendar challenges the formula. Near the eve of Lahd's 10th anniversary, the United Nations acclaimed the gallery's mission.

Lahd Gallery is now an advocate, collector, and educator for MENASA art.

For more information about Lahd Gallery please visit
lahdgallery.com